Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Would You Buy $800, 128-GB iPad?

For those who feel that 64 GB of storage in their
iPad isn't enough, there's good news. A new SKU has appeared that
suggests a higher-capacity model is on the way, according to 9to5Mac.
Rather than an entirely new iPad, this new SKU points to a variation of
the fourth-generation iPad.
9to5Mac's source says
the new iPad will be available in both black and white, in both Wi-Fi
only and Wi-Fi+cellular versions, and will be offered to educational
institutions and governments in packs of 10.

More Hardware Insights

The current fourth-gen iPad is available in capacities of 16 GB, 32 GB
and 64 GB. Apple's SKUs refer to these different storage capacities with
descriptions of "good," "better" and "best." The new SKU is described
as being "ultimate," which points to a capacity of 128 GB.
The report is corroborated by evidence found
in the latest iOS 6.1 beta. References in iOS 6.1 have also suggested
that a 128 GB model iPad is on the way. A higher-capacity iPad has also
been referenced in iTunes 11.

Pricing for the new model will fall in line with Apple's current scheme.
The Wi-Fi only version of the 128 GB model will cost $799. Adding
cellular radios will push the price to a painful $929 -- which is just
$70 cheaper than Apple's 11-inch MacBook Air.
Apple has not announced plans for such a tablet, nor has it confirmed 9to5Mac's report.
Given the relatively inexpensive access to cloud storage services, the
usefulness of such a high-capacity iPad is questionable. Speaking
personally, I stick with a maximum storage capacity of 32 GB in my
devices. With 32 GB I have plenty of room for apps (even those bigger
than 1 GB, such as Infinity Blade 2), as well as a good supply of
photos, music and a handful of HD movies. Considering that the
entry-level iPad starts at $499, adding such a massive amount of storage
and a cellular radio nearly doubles the price. I can't think of a
competing tablet that offers 128 GB of storage, though some include
support for microSD cards in addition to built-in storage.

What do you think? Is 128 GB a necessary option? Is it too much? Or is the pricing enough of a roadblock for people? Please comment below